WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT: Dead lion found hanging in its cage at infamous zoo

CRUEL: Two lions play at the infamous Surabaya Zoo in Indonesia - the zoo has been slammed for its cruelty to animals [UMARUL FARUQ/SAX ROHMER]

The African lion called Michael was found dead at the Surabaya Zoo with his head stuck between steel cables.

The zoo has outraged animal lovers all over the world after harrowing pictures of its ill-treated creatures were shown online.

The tourist attraction, which is nearly 800km east of the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, is being investigated by police following the horrific death of the 18-month-old.

The lion's body was initially removed before police could examine it although it appears to have now been located.

An online petition calling for the zoo to be closed already has nearly 68,000 signatures.

SHOCKING: An African lion called Michael was found dead in his cage after getting his head stuck between steel cables [UMARUL FARUQ/SAX ROHMER]

“We are still investigating how the steel cables could entrap the African lion's head”

Spokesman Agus Supangkat

The petition's creator, Andrea Perkins, writes: "By signing this petition you are telling Rahmat Shah (the head of Indonesia's Zoo Association), Tony Sumampouw (the man in charge of administering the zoo), and the entire populace of Indonesia that this type of aggression towards the creatures of this planet will not stand.

"It is time to put the animals first. They must be removed. And the Surabaya zoo must cease to exist."

The zoo has denied that Michael's death was caused by negligence from any of its workers.

Spokesman Agus Supangkat said: "We are still investigating how the steel cables could entrap the African lion's head.

"Michael was relatively young. He was only one and a half years old. It could be that he was playing around and somehow his head got stuck."